A snorkeler should not have to worry about his back when there is so much to do with his eyes.

"There's so much to see, it's unbelievable," Fisher said.

The nice thing about South Florida is that all the areas are very accessible, Fisher said.

"You can get to a good dive site in a very short of period of time," he said. "Almost anywhere along the coast, you can find something."

Mike Willette, a co-worker at American Divers International in Lake Worth, said, "This is the best state there is."

From south of the Hillsboro Inlet in Pompano Beach to north of the Jupiter Inlet near the Palm Beach-Martin county line, Morrison said, there are more places to skin dive than anywhere else in the continental United States.

Likewise, there probably are as many places to rent or buy snorkeling gear, Morrison said.

Just don't be a hasty or careless shopper, he said.

"You want rubber or silicone," Fisher said.

Both are softer, fit tighter and hold up better in salt water, he said.

For beginners, especially, masks, snorkels and fins "should all be fitted by a professional," Morrison said. "They're trained to fit you right."

One of the closest rental shops to Boca Raton's Red Reef Park is Force E, where Perry works.

At dive shops such as Force E, Perry said, it usually costs less than $10 a day to rent a mask, snorkel and pair of fins.

Said Fisher: "I usually suggest renting first."

Once you're ready to buy, "you can put together a (package) purchase for as little as $50 and as much as $250," he said.

And the gear comes in as many sizes as prices -- small enough for children, tough enough for active adults, comfortable enough for seniors.

"We get parents with their 5-year-olds," Fisher said, "and we have seniors coming in, too.

Snorkeling is a sport for all ages and abilities, Perry said.

It can open up the doors to underwater photography, hunting and scuba diving.

"There's nothing dangerous about it, as long as the equipment fits right," Perry said.

Fisher agreed. "Anyone who can swim will have no problem."

"You don't even have to be a super-great swimmer," Perry said. "All you have to do is kick your feet." And breathe through a pipe at the same time.

Like learning to simultaneously pat your head and rub your stomach, Perry explained, you soon get the hang of it.

Several area cities offer lessons in snorkeling, but the classes are geared more for children.

"If someone walked in and wanted to learn, we could arrange a lesson," Fisher said. "Almost any dive shop could."

Force E is one of the few that offers a regular instructional program, Perry said. The program includes a two-hour class, two two-hour pool sessions and an introduction to scuba diving for $20.

CONSUMER TIPS

DON'T BUY PLASTIC. It won't hold up in the water. Get rubber, instead. Consider buying silicone. It's more expensive, but softer and more comfortable. Don't mix rubber and silicone gear; the rubber can streak the silicone with black marks that won't wash off.

FINS COME IN TWO STYLES. Some fit like a shoe, while others have an adjustable strap in the back. If you buy fins with back straps, consider buying rubber booties.

TRY ON THE MASK before you buy it. Put the mask over your eyes and nose, then inhale through your nose. If the mask stays in place without the strap, it fits.

Source: Professional Association of Diving Instructors

SNORKELING TIPS

CHECK IN WITH THE LIFEGUARD beforehand. He or she can tell you about water and weather conditions, and suggest the best spots.

DO NOT SNORKEL ALONE. Be sure your snorkel is attached to your mask with a rubber ring.

DE-FOG YOUR MASK beforehand. Spread saliva or toothpaste on the inside of the mask, then wash it out.

BEFORE YOU GET INTO THE WATER, put your mask and snorkel on. Wet your fins before putting them on, then back into the water. It's easier to walk that way with fins on.

Do not touch something if you don't know what it is.

USE YOUR FINS TO GET AROUND. Keep your legs straight, your toes pointed out and the fins under water. The more you slap the surface, the slower you'll go.

PULL YOUR MASK DOWN to your neck, not up over your head, in the water. That way, it is less likely to get away from you.

IF YOU GET TIRED, roll over on your back and drift so you can catch your breath.

OBEY THE LAWS that prevent or restrict you from disturbing or taking coral or sea life.